Recently, I was talking with an executive about the frustration and conflict that can arise when a variety of styles comes together in a meeting...and no one recognizes the differences.
For example, put a linear thinker in with a bunch of creative types whose thoughts jump about like grasshoppers and then watch as the irritation level climbs. The lonely linear will want to move through the process in an organized, methodical, manner while the others will shun that as unduly restrictive.
Put people who are committed to excellence in with others who are solely in search of a workable approach and you'll find one side thinking the other is sloppy and the other believing the first group wants to gild the lily.
Put process freaks (lawyers and accountants come to mind) in with a bunch of hard-driving "bottomliners" and watch the eyes roll. The process people will suspect that the bottomliners are either sloppy or unethical. The bottomliners will regard the process folks as a bunch of beavers who want to dam up the works.
The next time you attend a meeting, keep an eye open for these groups. Don't expect to convert them, but see if you can take their concerns into account. It will save time and win allies.
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